Wednesday, July 05, 2006

On a slightly lighter note – however, in keeping with tonight’s “alcoholic” theme, I found this amusing – in more ways than one – as well as a bit dismal.

Anyone who knows this “area” of the Middle East knows that you can’t just “cross into the Eastern Province from Bahrain.” Go ahead. Grab that Atlas that’s been sitting there on the bottom shelf of the bookcase collecting dust. I’ll wait…

See? Bahrain is an island. And, as is typical for most islands, it is surrounded by water. There is The Causeway. It is probably a good five miles – maybe more – long. I can’t drive from one side to the other – I can drive after getting to the Bahrain side – but I cannot drive from my house to that point – so I’ve never checked the mileage. [Actually, the driving here is, for the most part, so bad, that I take a book if it is daylight and read. It is just too scary to watch the road and other drivers!] Either way, it’s a pretty good hike from Bahrain to Saudi Arabia via The Causeway.

Perhaps the camels swim? I know very little about camels, so if someone would like to set me straight on this, by all means, have at it. Be my guest.

And, I’ve not even given much consideration to the fact that this little old alcoholic Camel Herder has to go through customs – twice – Bahrain to leave, and then Saudi Arabia, to enter, after swimming how far? If you are walking, with your camels, do you still have to pay the crossing fee? How much is it per camel?

The dismal aspect of this is that at 80 years old this man for whatever reason isn’t able to retire and hang out in his tent – in the desert – with his camels and firewater. You’re 80 and you’ve worked all your life – herding camels – it’s time to kick back. You deserve it. And, you’ve taken “personal responsibility” for your actions. You’ve freely admitted that you are a “serious alcoholic” and your “greatest joy [is] to herd camels in the desert while drunk.” What you DON’T deserve six months in jail and 300 lashes! Is there a possibility that perhaps YOU are too short for jail?I'm raising my glass to the little Old Alcoholic Herder with the Swimming Camels. Cheers!

Child rapists ARE everywhere! The Sandbox is no exception – it has its share of sick, twisted and perverted child monsters.

John Couey’s case has been in recent headlines as his confession was made without the benefit of counsel – a “right” he asserted “no less than eight times in 46 seconds,” per FOXNews.com. This previously convicted sex offender admitted to detectives that he had kidnapped, raped and by means of burying her alive “killed” nine-year old, Jessica Lunsford. Couey – through the poor sap with a legal degree that drew the short straw – his Court appointed attorney – ultimately paid for with “our” tax dollars – will most certainly put the blame of whatever lame and sorry excuse of an explanation that he can muster for committing this crime to his drug addiction [crack cocaine].

Today, here in The Sandbox, Arab News reports that a “drunkard” father was caught in the act of raping his ten-year old daughter and arrested! The child’s uncle, her father’s brother, was included in the action – a ménage a trios – but “escaped when they [the police] raided the home.”

The little girl’s mother called the police on Saturday saying:

“that her husband and brother-in-law were attacking her daughter in a locked room in the apartment. [And] that the girl had been repeatedly raped for the past three days and had been subjected to severe beating and biting.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up, there, just a minute Mommy!!!

YOU KNEW THAT YOUR DAUGHTER WAS BEING REPEATEDLY RAPED BY YOUR HUSBAND AND YOUR BROTHER-IN-LAW FOR THE PAST THREE DAYS AND YOU WAITED TO CALL THE POLICE?!?

Similarly, in Couey’s case THREE OTHER PEOPLE may have known that Jessica was actually in the same run down piece of shit trailer that passed for a house – and not only did NO ONE call the police while Couey was doing the nasty with a nine-year old – but these THREE OTHER PEOPLE told the police they hadn’t seen or heard anything and didn’t know where Couey was [this all took place approximately 150 feet from Jessica’s house].

Am I the ONLY one who sees something wrong with this picture? I know there are other mother’s out there – who, like me – wouldn’t give a second thought to leaping in front of an oncoming freight train – or jumping in front of a loaded gun as the trigger was being pulled – or whatever – to protect their child! [Yes, I had a son, not a daughter, but the sentiment remains the same. There are plenty of sicko’s out there that rape little boys... Yeah… Today, they’re called school teachers…]

Thankfully [maybe?], in the case, here, at least the little girl hasn’t been buried alive – she’s not dead. She may wish she was at some point later on down the road, but for now, she’s in a hospital and it is reported to be “critically ill.” Yeah, I’d say…

We may never learn what punishment, if any, gets meted out to this “drunkard” Dad and his baby balling brother. Right now, we’re not even privy to their names – which if suppressed to protect the identity of the child is understandable, commendable even. More likely however, the reason these incestuous perpetrators have not been identified by name has to do with the fact that they are “locals.” Regardless, the fact that they may be alcoholics or addicts probably won’t be quite as swaying in their defense in The Sandbox as it would in the States. It is, however, interesting to note that Sociologist Adel Munawwar tells us this:

“Drugs and intoxicants are the root causes of several types of brutal crimes. Drunkards and drug addicts never seem to be aware of the depth and gravity of the crimes they commit.”

Um-hmm. That may be very true. But that shouldn’t negate PERSONAL responsibility. Ever!

And, what of the mother who didn’t report that her child was being raped? She needs to have her head examined and then she needs to be called to the mat. Same with the three other people that purportedly knew Couey had Jessica. What is it? I just don’t get it. How could ANYONE know that a child was being harmed in this way, shape or form and NOT do anything???

It. Is. Just. Sick. All of it. The men [and women, too] who commit the crimes; and those that enable them to do so.

There is only hope that the criminal justice system here [yeah, whatever they want to call it] has a hierarchy like the States: Baby raping is considered the lowest of the low; they prosecute their own on the “inside” if you get there – say – if you’re NOT TO SHORT FOR PRISON! And, if when you saw or heard this story when it was “news” you didn’t just shake your head…There shouldn’t be second chances for ANYONE that rapes a child. The gavel comes down, a guilty verdict is returned, and off you go. Straight to whatever jail or prison will take you. And there you remain. You do not pass Go, you do not collect $200.00 and you cannot use a “get out of jail free” card. You do not get put in special “lock-up” where you are not included in the general population. And, while you’re there, until you can pay for your own castration no cable T.V., no canteen privileges, nothing! [Damn, I just wish I was in charge…]

Sunday, July 02, 2006

Okay, the Internet is not really being blamed for drug abuse, but instead for the “increase” in drug abuse. Dr. Muhammad Ali Koman says here that:

“[T]he Internet played an important role in the circulation of drugs and that many criminals used the worldwide web to learn ways of smuggling and distributing narcotics.”

This, in and of itself, amazes me. I can’t track wine baskets that I’ve sent as gifts to relatives in the States as the sites are “blocked.” But I could, if I so desired, learned new ways of smuggling and distributing narcotics? What would one even search for to find the newest ways to smuggle and distribute narcotics? I need to start thinking more like a criminal and I’ll be able to figure this all out…

“The Internet is like any other technology; its misuse can lead to creating new types of crime. The Internet has been responsible for many ills within society,” he said.

If you don’t know, it was only within the last year or two that camera phones became legal here, in The Sandbox. Until then, they could and would be confiscated and immediately destroyed. That evil technology – those evil camera phones – and now – the evil internet! Who knew technology would one day be blamed for just about everything!?!

Dr. Koman further states:

“[T]here are no clear statistics about drugs in Saudi Arabia but compared to other countries drug abuse is very low in the country, thanks to Islamic awareness and social unity.”

Yeah, okay, you can go ahead and thank “awareness and social unity,” but I am more inclined to believe it is thanks to this Country’s “deterrent program” where the mere possession of drugs presents the possibility AND probability that one will have an opportunity of getting to be close and personal with Abdullah Sa’id Al-Bishi [Heads Will Roll, June 23, 2006].

Something is missing from this article. It just screams discrimination! Can you even imagine this happening in the United States [putting aside any other phone tapping programs, I mean for JUST women to be singled out]? The ACLU would have the complaint drafted and would be in the initial filing stages if this were to happen in the United States. But, this isn’t, and I’m doubtful that anyone will ever stand up and say, “But what about tapping the men’s phones, too?” And quite frankly, just tapping the phones will not stop “phone abuse,” if that is truly the problem.

I can attest to being one of those in the States who abused a cell phone. Like many, when I first got my cell phone, it was going to be “for emergency purposes.” Then “emergency” morphed into, “Honey, I’m stopping at the store on the way home. Do we need milk?” And from there, it was all downhill, being in the car or at the store or wherever was just another opportunity to make or take a phone call – and I considered it to be a timesaver – in that I could have double the amount of “just to chat” conversations with family and friends.

Here, in The Sandbox, cell phone use is epidemic. I do NOT recall the last time I saw someone WITHOUT a cell phone. A majority of the imported laborers and workers have them, many of the maids have them, all of the young “local” boys and girls have them, as do most of the “local” adults. And, I do not mean that these people all just “have” cell phones; they use them, they are permanently attached to many ears! [Me? Well, I can honestly say that my cell phone here, at this point, is for “emergency purposes.”]

Thus, that the Ministry has decided to “introduce radical measures to stop women employees and teachers from using telephones at work” will likely do nothing to curb what may indeed be a problem, in that there is nothing that will stop these women from using their cell phones. And, from what I’ve seen in the variety of work places I’ve had the pleasure of visiting, the men are as bad, if not worse, than the women when it comes to being on the phone. Interesting, then, why it is, when women are the minority workers, here in The Sandbox, that the men are not being targeted if the intended result is increased attentiveness and productivity.

About Me

Once upon a time, in the not too distant past, there was a Woman who thought she was living the American Dream. Her childhood, although now not particularly memorable, was fairly normal. She went to school. She got a job. She met a tall, blonde and handsome pilot and married him. It was all good. They were the perfect “Ken and Barbie” couple. The handsome pilot built her the house of her dreams in North Carolina, where she thought they would live for the remainder of their many, many days to come. Circumstances, totally out of the control of this lovely Ken and Barbie couple, changed everything. Shortly afterward, they came to find themselves living a whole new life in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Oh, sure, they are still the perfect “Ken and Barbie” couple, but Barbie now wears an abeyah over her designer outfits when she leaves her house, she has given up her pink convertible because she is not allowed to drive, and she no longer has an office that she visits five days a week, instead choosing to spend her time as a stay-at-home wife and an over-protective, doting Mommy to their two absolutely adorable, much loved and very, very pampered four-legged “Kids.”